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This paper delves into the output feedback control of systems with dual multi‐memoryless channels, where the data packets transmitted from the sensor to the controller (S/C) and from the controller to the actuator (C/A) are suffered from two different multi‐parallel Markovian fading channels. Two new multi‐state Markovian chains are introduced, by which the multiple fading channels system is transformed into a new jumping parameter system. Then a stochastic maximum principle is given along with an optimal state feedback controller for the case that the state is known. When the state is unknown, a Markov jump linear estimator is designed by using the completing square method. In this case, an output feedback controller is obtained by substituting the real system state with its estimation. Meanwhile, the separation principle is shown. Finally, the validity of these methods is verified by simulation examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a spectrally efficient silicon photonics phase‐diverse direct‐detection receiver based on asymmetric self‐coherent detection is proposed. The receiver is hardware efficient and composed of only two photodiodes and two analog‐to‐digital channels to accurately recover complex double‐sideband signals by leveraging an optimized integrated silicon racetrack resonator with near‐ideal phase responses. Moreover, the periodicity of the resonator response enables the receiver to support multi‐channel transmission such as dense wavelength‐division multiplexing. The receiver circuit is fabricated and characterized. In 40‐km transmission experiments, a record net electrical spectral efficiency of 7.10 bit s−1 Hz−1 per wavelength and per polarization is achieved, where a net 208‐Gb s−1 32QAM transmission is demonstrated using 29.3‐GHz electrical bandwidth. Furthermore, the receiver achieves net 220‐Gb s−1 16QAM transmissions in 14 channels from 1527 to 1550 nm with 205‐GHz spacing, and a maximum 240‐Gb s−1 net capacity at a single channel. Such a performance is reached with only standard coherent digital signal processing stacks including all‐linear equalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous and clinically aggressive disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and tumor budding (TB) are significantly correlated with the outcomes of patients who have TNBC, but no integrated TLS‐TB profile has been established to predict their survival. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the TLS/TB ratio and clinical outcomes of patients with TNBC using artificial intelligence (AI)‐based analysis.The infiltration levels of TLSs and TB were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry staining, and AI‐based analysis. Various cellular subtypes within TLS were determined by multiplex immunofluorescence. Subsequently, the authors established a nomogram model, conducted calibration curve analyses, and performed decision curve analyses using R software.In both the training and validation cohorts, the antitumor/protumor model established by the authors demonstrated a positive correlation between the TLS/TB index and the overall survival (OS) and relapse‐free survival (RFS) of patients with TNBC. Notably, patients who had a high percentage of CD8‐positive T cells, CD45RO‐positive T cells, or CD20‐positive B cells within the TLSs experienced improved OS and RFS. Furthermore, the authors developed a comprehensive TLS‐TB profile nomogram based on the TLS/TB index. This novel model outperformed the classical tumor‐lymph node‐metastasis staging system in predicting the OS and RFS of patients with TNBC.A novel strategy for predicting the prognosis of patients with TNBC was established through integrated AI‐based analysis and a machine‐learning workflow. The TLS/TB index was identified as an independent prognostic factor for TNBC. This nomogram‐based TLS‐TB profile would help improve the accuracy of predicting the prognosis of patients who have TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the optimal control problem for networked control systems over multiple Markovian packet loss channels under hold‐input compensation strategy. In this situation, the actuator receives the control signals from the controller via the individual channels. The system is transformed into a Markovian jump linear system by introducing a new Markovian jump variable. By giving a new maximum principle for such a system, a coupled difference Riccati‐type equation is developed, which in turn gives necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of optimal control problems in the finite horizon. Furthermore, for the infinite horizon case, the Markovian jump linear system is mean square stabilizable if and only if a set of coupled algebraic Riccati‐type equation has a particular solution. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the control effects of the proposed optimal controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on a numerical method for computing the ground state of the fractional stationary Schrödinger equation (FSSE). We first construct a continuous normalized fractional gradient flow (CNFGF) and prove its L 2 − norm conservation and energy diminishing properties. Then we introduce the fractional gradient flow with discrete normalization (FGFDN) to solve the CNFGF, and give the fully discretized scheme by Crank-Nicolson (CN) Fourier pseudospectral method. And the energy diminishing property of the fully discretized scheme is proved in linear case. Finally, we conduct numerical experiments to demonstrate the efficiency of our numerical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the Fourier spectral method on the sparse grids for computing the ground state of the many-particle fractional Schrödinger equations. The appropriate sparse grids for many-particle fractional Schrödinger equations are given, and the estimation for the number of grid points is obtained. Then, the iterative scheme of the inverse power method is presented to compute the ground state. In the numerical experiments, we consider two kinds of fractional Schrödinger equations, i.e. the fractional Schrödinger equation with harmonic potential and the electronic fractional Schrödinger equation. For the fractional Schrödinger equation with harmonic potential, when the scaled Planck constant ℏ is equal to 1, the sparse grid method has the obvious advantages in the high-resolution approximation both for the integer-order problem and the fractional-order problem, but when ℏ is equal to 1/4, the advantage of sparse grid method exists only for the fractional-order problem. We also show that for the electronic fractional Schrödinger equation, the sparse grid method is much better than the full grid method when the number of electrons is relatively large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the esterification of glycerol with acetic acid (HOAc) was investigated under sulfonated polyphenylene sulfide non-woven fabric (SPSF) as a solid catalyst. The effects of the amount of catalyst, reaction temperature, molar ratio of glycerol to HOAc and the reaction time on the esterification were studied in detail. It was found that SPSF has good catalytic activity and stability. Under the reaction conditions of the molar ratio of glycerol/HOAc of 1:6 (glycerol 0.1 mol), the reaction temperature of 110 °C, the amount of catalyst of 3 g, and the reaction time of 2 h, the glycerol conversion and the selectivity to diacetin (DAG) reached upto 96 and 56.1%, respectively. Reusability test of SPSF showed that no significant declination in the glycerol conversion and the selectivity was observed after five reaction cycles. The experimental results proved the esterification of glycerol with HOAc by SPSF a promising and green process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to assess patient satisfaction and aesthetic outcome in breast cancer patients undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) and immediate breast reconstruction. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 215 patients with histopathologically diagnosed breast cancer. The inclusion criteria were as follows: a diagnosis of breast cancer, a tumor of any size, any stage of nodal metastasis, and a tumor margin >2.0 cm from the margin of the nipple-areola complex. To measure the aesthetic outcome, the Lowery scale was used. After mastectomy, immediate breast reconstruction was performed using the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, and by pacing the silicone implant. Results: Most of the patients were aged between 40 and 51 years. Lymphadenopathy was positive in 87 out of 215 subjects; among these 87 subjects, 61 showed macrometastasis and 26 micrometastasis. A lateral incision was performed for mastectomy in all cases, and immediate breast reconstruction was performed using autologous grafts: the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous (TRAM) flap in 83% of cases, and silicone implants in 17% of cases were used for reconstruction. An excellent aesthetic outcome was seen in 70% of the cases, and 22% showed a good outcome. Conclusions: NSM is a very safe and technically feasible procedure that provides a high level of patient satisfaction and an excellent aesthetic outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developed novel neural network based fracture model capturing the complex effects of stress-state, strain rate and temperature. • Combined fracture model with Yld2000-3D plasticity model with a neural network based rate- and temperature dependent hardening. • Performed experiments comprising 136 unique combinations of stress states, strain rates (0.001/s to 100/s) and temperatures (20 °C to 360 °C). • Trained plasticity & fracture models using original experimental data for AA7075-T6. • Obtained accurate predictions of the large-deformation response for all experimental conditions. The accurate description of the strain rate and temperature dependent response of metals is a perpetual quest in crashworthiness and forming applications. In the present study, experiments are carried out to probe the onset of ductile fracture for an aluminum alloy AA7075-T6 for 136 combinations of stress state, strain rate and temperature. The experimental campaign covers strain rates ranging from 0.001/s to 100/s, and temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 360 °C. We combine a YLD2000 yield surface with a neural network based hardening law to describe the large deformation plasticity response of the material. The NN-based hardening law is trained on experimental data, achieving 3.9% accuracy on force predictions including the post-necking regime. The loading paths to fracture are extracted for each simulation, showcasing non-proportionally evolving stress triaxiality, Lode angle parameter, strain rate and temperature. A neural network parameterized Hosford–Coulomb fracture locus is proposed, which is trainable using these evolving loading histories. The accuracy of the proposed fracture model is validated against the experimental onset of fracture, predicting the fracture onset at an error of 8%. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow, intermediate and high strain rate experiments are carried out on flat smooth and notched tensile specimens extracted from dual phase steel sheets. A split Hopkinson pressure bar testing system with load inversion device is utilized to achieve high strain rates. Temperature dependent experiments ranging from 20 °C to 300 °C are performed at quasi-static strain rates. The experimental results reveal a non-monotonic effect of the temperature on the stress-strain curve for DP800 steel. For the temperatures considered, the lowest and highest curves are obtained for 120 °C and 300 °C, respectively. A modified Johnson-Cook plasticity model is developed to capture the observed unconventional effect of the strain rate- and temperature on the hardening response. It includes a von Mises yield surface, a non-associated Hill'48 flow rule, a Swift-Voce reference stress-strain curve describing the rate-independent behavior at room temperature, and a neural network function depending on the plastic strain, strain rate and temperature. This model is implemented into a material user subroutine and identified using a combination of analytical formulas along with a resilient back propagation algorithm. It is found that the obtained machine-learning based Johnson-Cook plasticity model can describe all experimental data with high accuracy, including both force-displacement and local surface strain measurements. Using a hybrid experimental-numerical approach, the loading paths to fracture are determined. It is found that the temperature not only affects the plasticity of the DP800 steel in a non-monotonic manner, but also its strain to fracture, with ductility loss of up to 30% when increasing the temperature from 20 to 120 °C, followed by a gain in ductility when increasing the temperature further to 300 °C. • Slow, intermediate and high strain rate experiments carried out on flat smooth and notched tensile specimens. • Temperature dependent experiments ranging from 20 °C to 300 °C performed at quasi-static strain rates. • Neural network function introduced to replace the temperature- and rate-dependent term of Johnson-Cook model. • Plasticity model captures non-monotonic effect of temperature on strain hardening response of DP800 steel. • Hybrid experimental-numerical analysis reveals non-monotonic effect of temperature on strain to fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A tunable blue random laser based on solid waveguide gain films with silver nanoparticles (NPs) and SiO 2 NPs is demonstrated. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) property and multiple scattering are proven playing an important role simultaneously. The tunability of the blue random laser is realized by simply roughing and changing the thickness of the solid waveguide gain films. To our knowledge, it is the first time using this method to achieve a wide wavelength tuning range of ∼24 nm. Highlights • Tunable blue random laser based on solid waveguide gain films. • Plasmonics and scatterers are playing an important role. • Ag nanoparticles with diameters of 4.8 nm are harmful to random lasing. • Emission wavelength can be tuned with changing the thickness of gain films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random lasing in a lotus leaf, with a wide tunable spectrum from planar liquid waveguide gain channels is described. The lotus leaf shows multiple scattering from the micro-papilla and nanoscale coralloid tomentum on its surface. The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern demonstrates excellent coherence and directionality for our random laser. The emission spectrum wavelength can be tuned by changing the pump position due to the random distribution of the micro/nano-scale features on the lotus leaf. Potential applications of the random laser include probing micro/nano-scale structural alterations, optical biosensors on chips, and developing a multi-color random laser. Image 1076 • A random laser based on lotus leaves from planar liquid waveguide gain channels. • A wide wavelength tuning range can be achieved by changing the pump position. • Micro-scale papillae and nano-scale coralloid wax are playing an important role. • The phenomenon of Fraunhofer diffraction can be observed clearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the time-splitting Fourier pseudospectral method on the generalized sparse grids is applied to solve the space-fractional Schrödinger equation. We give a containment relation between different level-index sets of the generalized sparse grids, and it can be used in designing the reference generalized sparse grids which are finer than other considered grids. Thus the numerical solution on the reference generalized sparse grids can be used as the reference true solution of the equation. Then, the fully discrete algorithm is obtained. In the numerical experiments, we compare the numerical results on the generalized sparse grids with those on the full grids. For the interpolation of the Gaussian multiplied by a factor and for the computation of the Schrödinger equation with two kinds of non-smooth potentials, the advantages of the Fourier pseudospectral method on the generalized sparse grids with the level-index set of parameter K = 1 , 2 , 3 are manifest in the approximation with high resolution. Here the sparsity of the generalized sparse grids will become weak when the parameter K becomes large. Moreover, the advantage of the generalized sparse grids is more pronounced in solving the Schrödinger equation with the higher dimension, the square well potential or the fractional Laplacian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of postoperative pain remains a challenge in clinic. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) and gabapentin regulate the release of neurotransmitters from primary afferent neurons, but their effects of on postoperative pain are not clear. In the current study, using pain behavioral tests, Western blot analysis, and immunocytochemistry, we examined whether BoNT/A, alone or in combination with intrathecal gabapentin, inhibited pain hypersensitivity and attenuated the increase in neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor internalization in dorsal horn neurons after plantar incision. Our data showed that pretreatment of rats with an intraplantar (2 U) 24 h before plantar incision or intrathecal (0.5 U) injection of BoNT/A 48 h before plantar incision induced a prolonged (3–5 days) decrease in pain scores and mechanical hypersensitivity, as compared to those observed with saline pretreatment. Both intraplantar and intrathecal BoNT/A pretreatment reduced synaptosomal-associated protein 25 levels in the ipsilateral lumbar dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord dorsal horn, and attenuated the increase in NK1 receptor internalization in dorsal horn neurons. Intrathecal administration of a sub-effective dose of gabapentin (50 μg) with BoNT/A (0.5 U) induced greater inhibition of pain hypersensitivity and NK1 receptor internalization than BoNT/A alone. These findings suggest that pretreatment with BoNT/A, alone or in combination with intrathecal gabapentin, may present a promising multimodal analgesia regimen for postoperative pain treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the problems of finite‐time (FT) stability and stabilisation for distributed parameter systems. First, the authors extend the concepts of FT stability and FT stabilisation to the distributed parameter systems. Then, sufficient conditions of the L2 ‐FT stability and W1,2 ‐FT stability for the distributed parameter systems are established in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Based on these sufficient conditions, the authors design the state feedback controllers which guarantee the closed‐loop distributed parameter systems to be L2 ‐FT stable and W1,2 ‐FT stable, respectively. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the proposed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a study of the channel modulation instability of commercial p-GaN gate HEMTs is presented. During the gate-voltage stress test, substantial R DS(ON) variations up to 78 mΩ (93.8%) were observed. It is found that the p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN gate structure enables the injection of holes and electrons, which can be captured by the donor/acceptor-like traps located in the AlGaN layer. Therefore, the trapped holes and electrons concurrently modulate the channel conductivity, resulting in R DS(ON) variations. Device simulation was performed to help explain the mechanism from the perspective of energy band. In addition, results reveal that with the recommended working gate-voltage stress V GS = 7 V, the on-state resistance, the threshold voltage and the off-state drain to source leakage current vary up to 8 mΩ (16.3%), 0.2 V (14.8%) and 12.8 μA (42.66%) within 1 h, respectively, which could raise reliability issues for the power electronics applications of p-GaN gate HEMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Gross–Pitaevskii equation is the model equation of the single-particle wave function in a Bose–Einstein condensation. A computation difficulty of the Gross–Pitaevskii equation comes from the semiclassical problem in supercritical case. In this paper, we apply a diffeomorphism to transform the original one-dimensional Gross–Pitaevskii equation into a modified equation. The adaptive grids are constructed through the interpolating wavelet method. Then, we use the time-splitting finite difference method with the wavelet-adaptive grids to solve the modified Gross–Pitaevskii equation, where the approximation to the second-order derivative is given by the Lagrange interpolation method. At last, the numerical results are given. It is shown that the obtained time-splitting finite difference method with the wavelet-adaptive grids is very efficient for solving the one-dimensional semiclassical Gross–Pitaevskii equation in supercritical case and it is suitable to deal with the local high oscillation of the solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The potential of adult human adipose tissue stem cells (hASCs) to differentiate into hepatocytes has generated much excitement over the possible use of hASCs in therapeutic applications. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the plasticity of hASCs toward hepatocytes will help to make this possibility a reality. Herein, we show that a homogenous population of hASCs characterized by a high level of CD73, CD90, and CD105 express the pluripotent transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, and SALL4 under proliferation conditions. A high level of activin A allows for hASCs acquiring the fate of definitive endoderm (DE) cells and expressing the specific transcription factors HEX, FOXA2, SOX17, and GATA4 synchronously. Using a reproducible three-stage method by mimicking liver embryogenesis, hASCs were directed to differentiate into functional hepatocytes. In the first stage, hASCs were induced to become DE cells by 2 days cultured in serum-free medium and 3 days of activin A treatment. Next, the presence of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 4 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2 in the medium for 5 days induced efficient hepatic differentiation from DE cells. After 10 days of further maturated by the sequential exposure to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), oncostatin M (OSM), and dexamethasone (DEX), the hASC-derived hepatocytes expressed mature hepatocytes marker and exhibited functional characterization, including albumin secretion, glycogen storage, urea production, activity of drug transporters, and cytochrome P450 activity. These findings will be useful for the implementation of hASC-derived hepatocytes in therapeutic purposes, metabolic analyses, drug toxicity screening, and studies of hepatocyte function. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 801-812, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Performed more than 50 plasticity and fracture experiments (uniaxial, shear, notched tension, strain rate jump tests). • Experiments cover strain rates of up to 150/s (before necking) and temperatures of up to 500 °C. • Neural network function predicts hardening based on equivalent plastic strain, strain rate, temperature and a McCormick type of dynamic strain aging variable. • Introduced counterexample-guided training to control strain rate effect. • Extracted loading paths to fracture reveal a non-monotonic effect of the strain rate and the temperature. • Identified a stress-state, strain rate and temperature dependent fracture initiation model. Constitutive models dealing with the thermal and visco-plasticity of metals have seen wide applications in the automotive industry. A basic plasticity and fracture characterization of a 1.5 mm thick DP780 dual phase steel sheet based on uniaxial tensile (UT) experiments with seven distinct material orientations is complemented by low (∼0.001/s), intermediate (∼1/s) and high (∼150/s) strain rate experiments on notched tensile (NT) and shear (SH) specimens at temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 500 °C. At low strain rates, we observe a non-monotonic effect of the temperature on the force-displacement curves, with the highest curve obtained at 300 °C. Contrasting low speed tests, a monotonic effect of temperature is observed for intermediate and high strain rate experiments, with the highest curves obtained at 20 °C for both cases. Strain rate jump tests are performed proving the positive strain rate sensitivity of the steel. A machine-learning based plasticity model is developed to capture the observed complex strain rate- and temperature effect. The material is modeled as elasto-plastic, with a Hill'48 yield surface and a non-associated flow rule. The flow resistance is decoupled into a reference strain hardening term and a neural network term, which is a function of the plastic strain, strain rate, temperature, and an additional dynamic strain aging variable. The plasticity model is implemented into a material user subroutine and identified using a counterexample-guided hybrid experimental-numerical approach. The extracted loading paths reveal a complex rate and temperature effect on the ductility of DP780. A neural network based fracture initiation model is therefore adopted to describe the fracture onset across various stress states, strain rates and temperatures considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random lasing from a polydimethylsiloxane substrate prepared from abalone shell by soft lithography was investigated. The substrate has better scattering efficiency than abalone shell and its groove structure can support both incoherent and coherent random lasing when covered with a layer of dye solution. When employing rhodamine 640 dye as gain medium, a dual-band random laser signal based on the mechanism of optical feedback intensity and mode competition can be observed, where the signals of the two bands are shown as incoherent and coherent random lasing regimes respectively. Speckle-free imaging is achieved by using incoherent and coherent random lasers as illumination sources and imaging effects are compared. This research shall promote the development of random lasers in the fields of illumination and imaging. • Dual-band random laser based on positive replica of abalone shell was demonstrated. • The transition between incoherent and coherent random lasers could be easily achieved by changing pump energy densities and engineering optical feedback intensity. • The coherent random laser was proved to be the best speckle-free imaging light source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Random laser (RL) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) are investigated using Rhodamine 6G ethanol solution in poly (melamine formaldehyde) foam with micro/nano-sized porous structures. At low dye concentration, the RL containing multiple discrete narrow peaks is observed in both its natural and compressed state of foam. It is found that the cavity length in the compressed state is significantly shorter through the power Fourier transform of the spectra. At high dye concentration, in the natural state of the foam, the coexistence of the RL and SRS is observed, while only the SRS peaks appear in the compressed state. It may provide a novel approach to achieving mode-controllable RL emission. • The laser cavity length in the compressed state is reduced. • The coexistence and competition of random laser and Raman laser are observed. • Random laser is converted to stimulated Raman scattering by compressing the foam. • The photons from amplified spontaneous emission seed stimulated Raman scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we reported on a tunable and stable random laser based on the abalone shell. The groove structure on the inner surface of abalone shell can support coherent random lasing when covered with a layer of dye doped film. By changing the pump position, the emission spectrum wavelength can be tuned by 12.10 nm due to the random distribution of the groove structure on the inner surface of abalone shell. The random laser can also be tuned by 13.85 nm using different concentrations of dye solutions. Furthermore, several different kinds of dyes were used to extent the emission wavelength range of the random laser. The normalized scattering efficiency spectrum confirms the experimental results. The excellent mechanical properties of the abalone shell endow the random laser with good stability. The random laser has potential applications in speckle-free imaging and probing nanoscale structural alterations. • A tunable and stable random laser based on abalone shell was demonstrated. • The emission spectrum can be tuned by changing pump position and concentrations of dye solutions. • The random laser has an excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is considered to be the key factor for metastasis and chemoresistance. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies for eradicating CSCs are urgently needed. Here we aimed to explore the role of KLF15 in stemness and the feasibility of using KLF15 to inhibit CSCs and improve chemotherapy sensitivity in PDAC. In this study, we report that KLF15 is negatively associated with poor survival and advanced pathological staging of PDAC. Moreover, tumorous KLF15 suppresses the stemness of PDAC by promoting the degradation of Nanog, and KLF15 directly interacts with Nanog, inhibiting interaction between Nanog with USP21. We also demonstrate that the KLF15/Nanog complex inhibit the stemness in vivo and in PDX cells. Tazemetostat suppresses stemness and sensitizes PDAC cells to gemcitabine by promoting KLF15 expression in PDAC. In summary, the findings of our study confirm the value of KLF15 level in diagnosis and prognosis of PDAC, it is the first time to explore the inhibition role of KLF15 in stemness of PDAC and the regulation mechanism of Nanog, contributing to provide a new therapeutic strategy that using Tazemetostat sensitizes PDAC cells to gemcitabine by promoting KLF15 expression for PDAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered lanthanum titanate (La2Ti2O7) perovskite is a good photocatalytic material owing to its high stability, strong redox ability, and non-toxicity. However, its inherent wide bandgap limits its application in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Therefore, combining La2Ti2O7 with two-dimensional (2D) narrow-bandgap semiconductors to form 2D/2D layered structures is the preferred strategy to improve its photocatalytic performance. In this study, a novel 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/La2Ti2O7 Z-scheme heterojunction was prepared through a solvothermal method. The experimental results show that when the molar ratio of La2Ti2O7 to ZnIn2S4 is 1 : 4, the hydrogen evolution rate of the composite under ultraviolet-visible light reaches 6.97 mmol g−1 h−1, which is 3.5 times higher than that of the pure ZnIn2S4. The results of the morphological characterization studies of the samples and the photoelectrochemical measurements show that channels for the rapid transfer of carriers are generated by the unique 2D/2D structure of these samples, and the separation and migration efficiency of the photogenerated carriers significantly improved due to the formation of the Z-scheme heterojunction. This study provides useful insights into the modulation of wide-bandgap semiconductors and research into solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective spin Hamiltonian method has drawn considerable attention for its power to explain and predict magnetic properties in various intriguing materials. In this review, we summarize different types of interactions between spins (hereafter, spin interactions, for short) that may be used in effective spin Hamiltonians as well as the various methods of computing the interaction parameters. A detailed discussion about the merits and possible pitfalls of each technique of computing interaction parameters is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Characterized plasticity and fracture of additively-manufactured stainless steel over wide range of strain rates and stress states. • Proposed modified Johnson-Cook model to describe large deformation response. • EBSD analysis reveals an unconventional microstructure with a high degree of heterogeneity in grain size. • Specific energy absorption of shell-lattices is significantly higher than that plate-lattices of the same weight. A combined numerical and experimental investigation is carried out on the quasi-static and high strain rate response of additively manufactured stainless steel 316L obtained through selective laser melting. The experimental program comprises experiments on uniaxial tension, shear, notched tension and mini-Nakazima specimens, covering a wide range of stress states and strain rates (from 10−3 to 103/s). An anisotropic quadratic plasticity model with Swift-Voce hardening and Johnson-Cook rate- and temperature-dependence is identified to describe the behavior of the constituent base material under different stress-states and strain rates. Compression experiments at low and high loading speeds are conducted on elastically-isotropic shell-lattice structures to further validate the identified plasticity model in a structural application. It is found that the chosen plasticity model can describe the reaction force and deformation patterns of the smooth shell lattice loaded at different speeds and orientations with good accuracy. The experiments reveal that the additively-manufactured shell-lattices are capable of sustaining macroscopic compressive strains of more than 60% without visible fracture of the cell walls regardless of the loading speed. The comparison with the results for plate-lattice structures of the same mass elucidate the great energy absorption potential of shell-lattices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) is a widely utilized cathode material in lithium‐ion batteries, prized for its safety, low cost, and extensive cycling lifespan. However, its low compaction density limits its application in batteries requiring high volumetric energy density. The inclusion of conductive carbon black in electrodes, while increasing porosity, also exacerbates side reactions due to its high specific surface area. In this study, the use of liquid metal (GaIn) nanoparticles is explored as a substitute for carbon black in electrode formulations. GaIn nanoparticles' stable oxide film prevents oxidation at cathode potential. Additionally, liquid metal improves the particle interface to a solid‐liquid interface, reducing particle friction and providing a lubricating effect, resulting in a denser electrode structure. As a result, the porosity of LiFePO4 electrodes prepared with liquid metal is reduced, leading to a 20.7% increase in volumetric energy density. Moreover, GaIn‐containing batteries exhibit fewer side reactions, especially at elevated temperatures in both liquid and solid battery configurations. Solid‐state batteries employing GaIn nanoparticles demonstrate a specific capacity of 144 mAh g−1 at 0.5C, showcasing superior cycling performance compared to traditional formulations. This underscores the potential of GaIn to elevate the performance of LiFePO4 batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent microbial contamination in foods and medical tools, we prepared a novel antibacterial material nano-silver loaded poly(styrene-co-acrylic) (nAg-PSA) composites by in situ reductions. The nAg-PSA was characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The antibacterial properties of nAg-PSA against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were systematically evaluated, and the underlying mechanism was investigated. Results showed that the silver nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto PSA microspheres, highly dispersed on the surface of nAg-PSA nanoparticles. The nAg-PSA nanoparticles all showed significant antibacterial effects, among which nAg-PSA4 had maximum diameters of inhibition zones against the Gram-negative E. coli (1.18 mm) and the Gram-positive S. aureus (1.29 mm), respectively, which closely related to the size and density of silver nanoparticles covered on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐efficiency optical waveguide amplifiers are becoming desperately desirable in integrated photonics to provide sufficient power compensations. Various material platforms have been employed to realize on‐chip waveguide amplifiers to date. Chalcogenide glasses (ChGs), as one of the well‐developed and promising optical platforms, have been extensively studied due to the excellent properties of low loss and high third‐order nonlinearity. However, the performances of their waveguide amplifiers are far from expectations on account of the intrinsic natures of low rare‐earth ion solubility, low luminous efficiency in chalcogenide hosts as well as the high photoinduced absorption loss in certain compounds. Here, a heterogeneous optical amplifier is proposed and demonstrated in an alternative Ge25Sb10S65 (GeSbS) waveguide via integration with an erbium‐doped aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer for the first time. A total 4.6 cm long spiral waveguide exhibits an internal net gain as high as 6.27 ± 0.618 dB at 1533 nm and a broad gain bandwidth over 40 nm ‐ ranging from 1520 nm to 1560 nm upon 1480 nm pumping. It is believed that this heterogeneous configuration will greatly enrich the functionality and versatility of the ChGs integrated photonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework requires effective actions to bend the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030. Wildlife trade, a direct drive of biodiversity decline, calls for more effective regulations to both protect wildlife populations in the wild and facilitate sustainable use of wildlife resources to meet human needs. This call has become particularly urgent in light of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In 2021, China's List of State Key Protected Wild Animals, a list of fauna under the strictest protection by national legislation, has been updated in the year 2021, 32 years after its first release, increasing its coverage (from the original 13%) an 11% of species across taxa. Combined with the updated List of State Protected Terrestrial Wild Animals which covers species with lower protection priority, these two national lists already cover 77% terrestrial vertebrate species of China. Such a blacklist approach, placing threatened species under a list of legal protection, is a common practice globally in species conservation. We discussed pros and cons of this dominant strategy and further explored the potential integration with a whitelist approach, listing all wildlife and only permitting regulated uses of certain species. We propose a mixed approach combining black and whitelists at different administration levels which could perhaps be first adopted in China. This is mainly due to the fact that in addition to illegal harvesting from the wild, traded wildlife in China are mostly from captive breeding and related laundering of wild‐caught animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pestiviruses, including classical swine fever virus, remain a concern for global animal health and are responsible for major economic losses of livestock worldwide. Despite high levels of vaccination, currently available commercial vaccines are limited by safety concerns, moderate efficacy, and required high doses. The development of new vaccines is therefore essential. Vaccine efforts should focus on optimizing antigen presentation to enhance immune responses. Here, we describe a simple herringbone‐dimer strategy for efficient vaccine design, using the classical swine fever virus E2 expressed in a rice endosperm as an example. The expression of rE2 protein was identified, with the rE2 antigen accumulating to 480 mg/kg. Immunological assays in mice, rabbits, and pigs showed high antigenicity of rE2. Two immunizations with 284 ng of the rE2 vaccine or one shot with 5.12 μg provided effective protection in pigs without interference from pre‐existing antibodies. Crystal structure and small‐angle X‐ray scattering results confirmed the stable herringbone dimeric conformation, which had two fully exposed duplex receptor binding domains. Our results demonstrated that rice endosperm is a promising platform for precise vaccine design, and this strategy can be universally applied to other Flaviviridae virus vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the Fourier spectral method and numerical investigation for a class of modified Zakharov system with high-order space fractional quantum correction. First, the numerical scheme of the system is developed with periodic boundary condition based on the Crank–Nicolson/leap-frog methods in time and the Fourier spectral method in space. Moreover, it is shown that the scheme preserves simultaneously mass and energy conservation laws. Second, we analyze stability and convergence of the numerical scheme. Last, the numerical experiments are given, and the results show the correctness of theoretical results and the efficiency of the conservative scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we discuss the error estimate of Fourier pseudo-spectral method for multidimensional nonlinear complex space fractional Ginzburg-Landau equations. The continuous mass and energy inequalities as well as their discrete versions are presented. Moreover, by the discrete mass and energy inequalities, the error estimate of the Fourier pseudo-spectral scheme is established, and the scheme is proved to have the spectral accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP) and the infectious complications of AP are commonly associated with enteric bacteria, yet whether gut microbiota dysbiosis participants in AP severity remains largely unknown.Methods: We collected clinical information and fecal samples from 165 adult participants, including 41 with mild AP (MAP), 59 with moderately severe AP (MSAP), 30 with severe AP (SAP) and 35 healthy controls (HC). The serum inflammatory cytokines and gut barrier indexes were detected. Male C57BL/6 mice with AP were established and injuries of pancreas were evaluated in antibiotic-treated mice, germ-free mice as well as those transplanted with fecal microbiota. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results: The structure of gut microbiota was significantly different between AP and HC, and the disturbed microbiota was closely correlated with systematic inflammation and gut barrier dysfunction. Notably, the microbial composition changed further with the worsening of AP and the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Blautia was decreased in SAP compared with MAP and MSAP. The increased capacity for the inferred pathway, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells in AP, highly correlated with the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella. Furthermore, the antibiotic-treated mice and germ-free mice exhibited alleviated pancreatic injury after AP induction and subsequent fecal microbiota transplantation in turn exacerbated the disease.Conclusions: This study identifies the gut microbiota as an important mediator during AP and its dysbiosis is associated with AP severity, which suggests its role as potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroligin 2 is a synaptic cell adhesion molecule that is mainly located in inhibitory synapses and is crucial in the regulation of synapse function through protein–protein interactions. However, researchers have not clearly determined whether neuroligin 2 is involved in the development of postoperative pain. In the current study, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining and co-immunoprecipitation were used to examine the critical role of neuroligin 2 in postoperative pain hypersensitivity. A small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA)-targeting neuroligin 2 was used to inhibit neuroligin 2 expression. Our data found that plantar incision induced postoperative pain hypersensitivity, which was characterized by paw withdrawal threshold and cumulative pain score. The upregulation of neuroligin 2 and GluR1 expression in the postsynaptic membranes of ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn was observed at 3 h and 1 day after plantar incision. Additionally, at 3 h after plantar incision, the amount of PSD-95 that was co-immunoprecipitated with neuroligin 2 antibody was significantly increased in the ipsilateral dorsal horn, as compared to that of the control group. Intrathecal pretreatment of siRNA-targeting neuroligin 2 to reduce the neuroligin 2 expression in the spinal cord significantly inhibited the pain hypersensitivity and reduced the synaptic targeting of GluR1 in ipsilateral dorsal horns. Our study indicates that the incision-induced interaction between neuroligin 2 and PSD-95 and subsequent synaptic targeting of GluR1 in ipsilateral dorsal horns contribute to postoperative pain hypersensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-line frequency up-conversions are realized in Cs vapor using 718.8 nm pumping laser resonating with the two-photon transition 6 2 S 1/2 → 8 2 D 5/2 of Cs atom. The pumping beam is converted into a beam including wavelengths of 361.2, 387.7, 455.7 and 621.5 nm. Experiments with collimated and focused pumping configurations are carried out and compared. Spectrum peak at 361.2 nm is strongest under collimated pumping condition, while 387.7 nm is strongest under focused pumping beam. The output beam under focused pumping is more stable than that under collimated pumping. Results in this work may be useful in laser frequency standard, beacon light, laser measuring and optics communications, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of exocrine glands, resulting in dry mouth and eyes. Currently, there is no effective treatment for SS, and the mechanisms associated with inadequate salivary secretion are poorly understood. Methods: In this study, we used NOD mice model to monitor changes in mice's salivary secretion and water consumption. Tissue morphology of the submandibular glands was examined by H&E staining, and Immunohistochemical detected the expression of AQP5 (an essential protein in salivary secretion). Global gene expression profiling was performed on submandibular gland tissue of extracted NOD mice model using RNA-seq. Subsequently, a series of bioinformatics analyses of transcriptome sequencing was performed, including differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identification, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, PPI network construction, hub gene identification, and the validity of diagnostic indicators using the dataset GSE40611. Finally, IFN-γ was used to treat the cells, the submandibular gland tissue of NOD mice model was extracted, and RT-qPCR was applied to verify the expression of hub genes. Results: We found that NOD mice model had reduced salivary secretion and increased water consumption. H&E staining suggests acinar destruction and basement membrane changes in glandular tissue. Immunohistochemistry detects a decrease in AQP5 immunostaining within acinar. In transcriptome sequencing, 42 overlapping DEGs were identified, and hub genes (REN, A2M, SNCA, KLK3, TTR, and AZGP1) were identified as initiating targets for insulin signaling. In addition, insulin signaling and cAMP signaling are potential pathways for regulating salivary secretion and constructing a regulatory relationship between target-cAMP signaling-salivary secretion. Conclusion: The new potential targets and signal axes for regulating salivary secretion provide a strategy for SS therapy in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AMD3100 is a specific C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) antagonist which blocks the interaction between CXCR4 and CXCL12. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that AMD3100 has analgesic effects on many pathological pain states, including peripheral neuropathic pain. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. In the current study, we investigated the effect of different doses of AMD3100 on neuropathic pain in rats after L5 spinal nerve ligation. We used naloxone methiodide (NLXM) to further determine whether AMD3100-mediated analgesic effect was opioid-dependent. Behavioral study showed that early repeated administration of AMD3100 (2 and 5 mg/kg, i.p.) dose-dependently alleviates peripheral neuropathic pain. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and NLXM experiments showed that AMD3100 alleviates neuropathic pain partially by augmenting leukocyte-derived endogenous opioid secretion. Furthermore, we found that pro-inflammatory cytokines were down-regulated by AMD3100 using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Our data indicate that AMD3100 dose-dependently alleviates neuropathic pain partially by augmenting leukocyte-derived endogenous opioid secretion. This finding suggests that AMD3100 may be a viable pharmacotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated administration of morphine may result in opioid-induced hypersensitivity (OIH), which involves altered expression of numerous genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Yet, it remains unclear how BDNF expression is increased in DRG neurons after repeated morphine treatment. DNA methylation is an important mechanism of epigenetic control of gene expression. In the current study, we hypothesized that the demethylation regulation of certain BDNF gene promoters in DRG neurons may contribute to the development of OIH. Real-time RT-PCR was used to assess changes in the mRNA transcription levels of major BDNF exons including exon I, II, IV, VI, as well as total BDNF mRNA in DRGs from rats after repeated morphine administration. The levels of exon IV and total BDNF mRNA were significantly upregulated by repeated morphine administration, as compared to that in saline control group. Further, ELISA array and immunocytochemistry study revealed a robust upregulation of BDNF protein expression in DRG neurons after repeated morphine exposure. Correspondingly, the methylation levels of BDNF exon IV promoter showed a significant downregulation by morphine treatment. Importantly, intrathecal administration of a BDNF antibody, but not control IgG, significantly inhibited mechanical hypersensitivity that developed in rats after repeated morphine treatment. Conversely, intrathecal administration of an inhibitor of DNA methylation, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) markedly upregulated the BDNF protein expression in DRG neurons and enhanced the mechanical allodynia after repeated morphine exposure. Together, our findings suggest that demethylation regulation of BDNF gene promoter may be implicated in the development of OIH through epigenetic control of BDNF expression in DRG neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three-dimensional foam zinc electrodes homogenize the current distribution by adjusting the local current distribution. • Zincophilic Cu and CuZn 5 coatings induce uniform deposition of Zn and restrain dendrite growth. • Cu layer incorporation inhibits corrosion, improving electrode stability. • The full cell utilizing FZn@Cu composite anode demonstrates excellent cycle stability. The practical utilization of zinc-metal anodes is primarily hindered by the restricted lifespan and diminished Coulombic efficiency (CE) arising from the growth of zinc dendrites and concurrent side reactions. To tackle these challenges, numerous 3D hosts have been thoroughly investigated, although there is still a need to address concerns related to high-flux deposition and electrode corrosion resistance. In a pioneering effort, a double-coated material derived from foamed zinc (denoted as FZn@Cu) has been developed for utilization as an anode in high-performance zinc-metal batteries. FZn@Cu originates from a three-dimensional reconstruction of a zinc electrode (foam Zn) in a porous and layered structure with a dense Cu coating on the surface and a solid CuZn 5 at the interface. Experimental observations, density-functional theory calculations and phase-field simulations indicate that zincphilic Cu and CuZn 5 can induce homogeneous deposition of Zn. The results show that FZn@Cu has low voltage hysteresis (25.1 mV), long cycling stability (exceeding 1800 h) and the ability to inhibit electrode corrosion. In addition, the full cell based on FZn@Cu composite anode and MnO 2 cathode exhibits excellent multiplicity performance and stable cycle life (133.9 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 1000 cycles). This study introduces an innovative and scalable zinc-based anode material, offering a new strategy for the design of dendrite-free zinc anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 3D porous zinc foam electrode homogenizes the current distribution by adjusting the local current distribution. • The Cu-CuSe 2 gradient design optimally Zn ion flux and zinc deposition path. • The dual coating effectively inhibits both HER and corrosion. • The Zn-Se full cell utilizing FZCCS anode demonstrates excellent cycle stability. Zinc-selenium batteries have high specific and volumetric capacities, but practical development faces key challenge in achieving stable zinc metal anodes, and avoiding zinc dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and corrosion. Here, a zinc foam substrate is employed to fabricate three-dimensional gradient electrodes Zn foam@Cu@CuSe 2 (ZFCCS) with gradient change of zincophilicity and conductivity. Experimental observations and simulations collectively confirm that the three-dimensional structure and gradient design effectively homogenize interfacial ion flux and diminish local current density. This optimization of the zinc deposition path synergistically fosters high flux and deep deposition of zinc metal while simultaneously preventing dendrite growth. The results demonstrate that the developed ZFCCS electrode produces an excellent Coulombic efficiency of 99.5 % over 1000 plating/stripping cycles, and the corresponding symmetric cell provides an ultra-long dendrite-free cycle life of 800 h at 5 mA cm−2 and 2 mAh cm−2 with a low overpotential of 27.4 mV. In addition, the Zn-Se full cell based on the designed ZFCCS composite anode exerts superior stable cycle life (358.1 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1 after 1000 cycles). Therefore, the gradient design strategy based on 3D electrodes will be a reference for high performance energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intestinal dysfunction is a common complication of acute pancreatitis. MiR155 may be involved in the occurrence and development of intestinal dysfunction mediated by acute pancreatitis, but the specific mechanism is not clear. Aims: To investigate the effect of miR155 on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP)-associated intestinal dysfunction and its possible mechanism in a mice model. Methods: In this study, SAP mice model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein and LPS in combination. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) was given by tail vein injection before the SAP model. The pancreatic and intestinal histopathology changes were analyzed. Cecal tissue was collected for 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing. Intestinal barrier proteins ZO-1 and E-cad were measured by Immunohistochemistry Staining and Western Blot, respectively. Intestinal tissue miR155 and inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were detected by Q-PCR. The expression levels of protein associated with TNF-α and TLR4/MYD88 pathway in the intestinal were detected. Results: In miR155 overexpression SAP group, the levels of tissue inflammatory factor were significantly increased, intestinal barrier proteins were significantly decreased, and the injury of intestinal was aggravated. Bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, showing miR155 promotes gut microbiota dysbiosis. The levels of TNF-α, TLR4, and MYD88 in the intestinal were detected, suggesting that miR155 may regulate gut microbiota and activate the TLR4/MYD88 pathway, thereby affecting the release of inflammatory mediators and regulating SAP-related intestinal injury. After application of miR155-sponge, imbalance of intestinal flora and destruction of intestinal barrier-related proteins have been alleviated. The release of inflammatory mediators decreased, and the histopathology injury of intestinal was improved obviously. Conclusion: MiR155 may play an important role in SAP-associated intestinal dysfunction. MiR155 can significantly alter the intestinal microecology, aggravated intestinal inflammation through TLR4/MYD88 pathway, and disrupts the intestinal barrier in SAP mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an effective dermal filler for facial rejuvenation. This study aimed to observe the clinical efficacy of HA injection for lip augmentation in Chinese patients. Methods: From May 2019 to April 2020, 70 patients with lip fullness scale (LPS) ≤3 underwent local HA injection using the "three‐point" injection technique. All patients were followed up to observe the clinical efficacy, LPS, adverse events, and complications. Results: All 70 patients were followed up for 12 months. Statistically significant improvements were observed in the height of lips within 6–9 months post‐treatment (p < 0.05). The LFS improved significantly at follow‐up compared with baseline (p < 0.05). Local redness occurred in two patients, and serious swelling occurred in three patients. These adverse events were generally tolerated and disappeared gradually within 1 week. No other serious adverse events and complications were reported in the remaining patients. Conclusions: Hyaluronic acid injection can be used for lip augmentation in the Chinese population. The "three‐point" technique is simple, safe, and effective and does not cause serious complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long linear carbon chains are attracting intense interest arising from their remarkable properties, such as the tunable direct energy gap, the high mechanical hardness, and the high Raman response cross section, which would play a great role in their potential applications in future nanotechnology. Here the excitonic transitions and the associated relaxation dynamics of nanotube confined long linear carbon chains are comprehensively interrogated by using steady state and time‐resolved Raman spectroscopies. The exciton relaxation dynamics of the confined carbon chains occurs on a hundred of picoseconds timescale, in strong contrast to the host dynamics that occurs on a few picoseconds' timescale. A prominent time‐resolved Raman response is observed over a broad energy range extending from 1.2 to 2.8 eV, which includes the strong Raman resonance region around 2.2 eV. Strong coupling between the chain and the nanotube host is found from the dynamics at high excitation energies which provides clear evidence for an efficient energy transfer from the host carbon nanotube to the chain. The experimental study presents the first unique characterization of the long linear carbon chain exciton dynamics, providing indispensable knowledge for the understanding of the interactions between different carbon allotropes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is a member of the genus Pestivirus, which causes serious economic losses. The re-emergence of the disease in Japan in 2018 has increased awareness of CSFV. In this study, Balb/c mice were immunized with plant-derived E2 protein, and four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 4B11, 7B3, 11A5 and 6F3 were generated. Two of these mAbs, 4B11 and 7B3, effectively blocked CSFV infection of PK-15 cells. Both mAbs recognized a novel linear epitope, 256CLIGNTTVKVHASDER271. The neutralizing ability of anti-CSFV serum decreased 63%, when pre-incubated with the linear peptide at 200 μg/mL. Structural analysis showed that this linear epitope is present at the border of Domain C and Domain D on the surface of the E2 protein. Alignment of amino acid sequences showed that the epitope was conserved in different subgroups of CSFV but not in other members of the Pestivirus genus. Consistently with the analysis above, this epitope distinguished antibodies against CSFV from those against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Our study provides an ideal candidate peptide for new vaccine design and differential diagnosis of CSFV. These findings will contribute to the control and eradication of classical swine fever. • Four mAbs against CSFV E2 were generated. Two of them presented neutralizing reactivity against CSFV. • A novel linear neutralizing epitope P33 located at the border of Domain C and Domain D of the E2 protein was identified. • Epitope P33 distinguished antibodies to CSFV from those to BVDV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work gives a precise review of the researches completed on the energy conservation characteristics of liquid flow glazing. Its energy saving and environmental benefits under various design and operation conditions, contributions with renewable energy utilization, as well as application in zero energy buildings are timely explored and summarized. Its advantages lie in the reduction of thermal transmission between the indoor and outdoor environments, the beneficial thermal collection, and the tactful utilization of renewable energy. The optical and thermal properties, as well as the energy performance of liquid flow glazing were found much affected by the glazing and fluid properties, the window configuration, and the operating conditions. These are consequently linked to the degree of electricity saving, the decrease in atmospheric CO 2 emission, and the shortened life cycle payback time. The integrated use of solar and geothermal energy in liquid flow glazing systems is also addressed. This leads to more practical studies on the applications in zero energy buildings, such as control, real-time monitoring, and energy management strategies of liquid flow glazing system. In essence, the development of an evaluation platform or database, with systemic classification of liquid flow glazing categories plus the corresponding graded energy saving characteristics, is deemed helpful to the building professionals in meeting the zero energy buildings development targets. [Display omitted] • Liquid flow glazing/window. • Enhanced thermal insulation, thermal collection and thermal comfort. • Energy, environment and economic benefits. • Improved energy efficiency with renewable energy application. • Modularization, Monitor and Control, plus energy management toward ZEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders are associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. However, the sex-specific characteristics of the gut microbiota and its association with a sexually dimorphic response to a HFD remain unclear. Methods: Male and female mice were randomly assigned to receive a chow diet (CD) or HFD for 12 weeks. A group of HFD mice were pretreated with antibiotic cocktails for 4 weeks. Body weight, insulin sensitivity and the levels of serum metabolic parameters (blood glucose and insulin) were evaluated. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to analyze the composition of the gut microbiota. Results: HFD-induced body weight gain (BWG) was higher in male mice than in female mice. While insulin resistance was increased in the HFD group compared to CD group in male mice, there was no difference in insulin resistance among female mice. Antibiotic-pretreatment alleviated HFD-induced insulin resistance in male mice and elevated fasting blood glucose in female mice. The composition of the gut microbiota in male mice was remarkably different from that in female mice independent of diet. A higher abundance of the genera Parabacteroides, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Bifidobacterium was observed in females than inmales. HFD feeding also influenced the structure of the gut microbiota, as it decreased the abundance of short-chain fatty acids-producing bacteria including Roseburia and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group. Alterations in the gut microbiota in response to antibiotics followed by HFD were different between males and females, indicating sex-dependent sensitivity to antibiotics. Conclusions: We identified that sex had a greater impact on the composition of gut microbiota than environmental factors (HFD and antibiotics). The enrichment of beneficial microbes in female mice may be associated with the resistance of female mice to HFD-induced metabolic disorders, which was weakened by antibiotic pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effectiveness of adipose tissue-derived stem cells sheet combined with atelocollagen matrix on a mouse model of radiation-induced skin injury, adipose tissue-derived stem cells were harvested from the bilateral groin of mice and were screened out by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Cell sheets were created on a temperature-responsive cell culture surface. The wound recovery rate was detected by measuring the injury area and the recovery shapes of wound were monitored by hematoxylin–eosin, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were conducted to detect relative mRNA expression level of interleukin-1β and protein expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor, respectively. As results, the three-layer adipose tissue-derived stem cells sheet combined with atelocollagen matrix treatment promoted wound healing significantly compared to other treatments. More collagen, higher vessel density, and milder inflammation were observed in the group of three-layer adipose tissue-derived stem cells sheet combined with atelocollagen matrix compared with other treatments. Moreover, both mRNA expression level of interleukin-1β and protein expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor were drastically decreased in that group. In conclusion, three-layer adipose tissue-derived stem cells sheet combined with atelocollagen matrix could promote wound healing synergistically, providing a substantial advance in cell-based tissue engineering and wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we proposed two semi-quantum direct communication protocols based on Bell states. By pre-sharing two secret keys between two communicants, Alice with the advanced quantum ability can transmit secret messages to the classical Bob who can only perform the limited classical operations. At the same time, both sides of the communication can comfirm the legitimacy of each other's identity. Security and qubit efficency analysis have been given. The analysis results show that the two protocols can resistant to several well-known attacks and their qubit efficency is higher than some current protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]